Froedtert Hospital is continuing to fight the Wisconsin Historical Society’s decision approving our reburial plan for the 831 ancestors exhumed in 2013. Unfortunately, this means the reburial of the ancestors housed at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee will remain on hold until the pending appeal has been resolved.

After the Division of Hearings and Appeals dismissed their appeal on January 10^th, finding that it did not have the authority to hear the case, Froedtert and the county filed an appeal in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on February 10^th. The case, Milwaukee County et al. vs. Christian W. Overland et al. (2025CV001230), has been assigned to the Hon. William Sosnay. While there is not a set timeframe, it is not likely to be concluded quickly.

Froedtert Hospital has raised concerns about the cost of our reburial plan, citing it as “too excessive;” the costs, however, are reasonable and reflect careful consideration of several factors. Finding a place for 831 individual graves within a single area in Milwaukee County was no easy task, and we are confident in our choice of Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum.

Our plan includes not only the initial cost of reburial but also perpetual care, which will involve ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the graves long after we are gone. This is expected and required for cemeteries in Wisconsin, ensuring the graves remain secure, well-maintained, and accessible to future generations.

The cost of our reburial plan is directly tied to when the reinterments are completed. The more time that passes before the reburials take place, the lower the cost will be for each grave. Froedtert will ultimately bear the increased costs, as they are responsible for paying regardless of when the reburials occur.

Next Steps

Our community is committed to ensuring that every person who was exhumed in 2013 receives the respect they deserve. We are not just fighting for ourselves; we are fighting for the values of our ancestors and the people who built Milwaukee County.

“Our direction at this time is to wait for these court things to happen,” Descendant Community President Judy Houston said. “It is really unfortunate. I’ve been very sad that these people will not be reburied this year.”

Despite this delay, we continue telling our story. We will also continue our genealogical research, identifying veterans and others with the hope of re-uniting them with their families.

Join Us

Join us in this fight for dignity and respect. Donate now or contact us to volunteer to help us honor our ancestors and ensure their legacy continues to thrive. Our community relies on volunteers like you to help us identify veterans and others who deserve reburial; training is provided, and we invite you to join our team!

Reasons for Appeal

Milwaukee County and Froedtert Hospital cite several reasons for their appeals. While they vary in their wording, they are similar:

• Lack of due process
• Procedural errors
• Misinterpretation of definitions
• Unlawful exercise of discretion (The county, in particular, says that the decision prohibits it from complying with its ordinances and procurement processes.)

These are largely the same reasons the county requested that the Burial Sites Preservation Board review the decision previously. At a meeting of the board held on August 8, 2024, Wisconsin Historical Society Attorney Sarah Larson explained that the request for review, which had been accepted past the deadline, lacked merit. The minutes from this meeting are available on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s website. While both the county and the hospital claim that they were unaware of this meeting, it was publicly announced and several members of the Descendant Community attended.

Our Commitment

As this appeal progresses, the Descendant Community remains committed to ensuring the respectful and dignified reburial of the 831 ancestors who were exhumed. We encourage the community to stay informed and involved as we work to honor the individuals once buried at Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries and address the impacts of past actions.